[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 29, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71078-71079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30276]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[NH-45-7172b; A-1-FRL-6906-3]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans and 
Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of New 
Hampshire; Revision to the Carbon Monoxide State Implementation Plan, 
City of Nashua; Carbon Monoxide Redesignation Request, Maintenance 
Plan, Transportation Conformity Budget, and Emissions Inventory for the 
City of Nashua; Carbon Monoxide Redesignation Request, Maintenance 
Plan, Transportation Conformity Budget, and Emissions Inventory for the 
City of Manchester

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
redesignate the Nashua, New Hampshire nonattainment area to attainment 
for the carbon monoxide (CO) air quality standard and is proposing to 
approve a Maintenance Plan that will insure that the Nashua area 
remains in attainment. The EPA is also proposing to redesignate the 
Manchester, New Hampshire nonattainment area to attainment for the CO 
air quality standard and is proposing to approve a maintenance plan 
that will insure that the Manchester area remains in attainment. Under 
the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (the CAA), designations can be 
revised if sufficient data are available to warrant such revisions and 
the request to redesignate shows that all of the requirements of 
section 107(d)(E)(3) of the CAA have been met. EPA is proposing to 
approve the New Hampshire maintenance plans and other redesignation 
submittals because they meet the maintenance plan and redesignation 
requirements, and will ensure that the two areas remain in attainment. 
The approved maintenance plans will become a federally enforceable part 
of the New Hampshire State Implementation Plan (SIP). In this action, 
EPA is also proposing to approve the New Hampshire 1990 baseline 
emission inventories for both of these areas, transportation conformity 
budgets for both areas and a revision to the inspection and maintenance 
(I/M) SIP approved for the Nashua area.
    In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is 
approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without a 
prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial 
submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for 
the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no relevant 
adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further 
activity is contemplated. If EPA receives relevant adverse comments, 
the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments 
received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this 
proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any 
parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this 
time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, 
paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed 
from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions 
of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 29, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to David Conroy, Manager, Air Quality 
Planning Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection (mail code CAQ), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, New England office, One Congress 
Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02114-2023. Copies of the State 
submittal and EPA's technical support document are available for public 
inspection during normal business hours, by appointment at the Office 
of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New 
England office, One Congress Street, 11th floor, Boston, MA and Air 
Resources Division, Department of Environmental Services, 6 Hazen 
Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey S. Butensky, Environmental 
Planner, Air Quality Planning Unit of the Office of Ecosystem 
Protection (mail code CAQ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New 
England office, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114-2023, (617) 918-
1665 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For additional information, see the direct

[[Page 71079]]

final rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal 
Register.

    Dated: November 14, 2000.
Mindy S. Lubber,
Regional Administrator, EPA New England.
[FR Doc. 00-30276 Filed 11-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P